If the referendrum vote ,when it happens,goes for leaving Europe what would be the situation regarding EHIC cards and their use in Europe for travel and holidays etc.This and many other issues are very concerning to everybody,more so Expats living abroad in Europe.Any commemts???
If I was in England, i'd deffo be voting to get out, but being very selfish, living here in Spain, i'd deffo vote to stay in. Being a Pensioner, I get free health care, which i'm sure i' d lose, so i'd urge all Pensioners to vote to stay IN.
I think that regarding the EHIC and your health insurance whilst abroad, Is mainly to understand that the EHIC is a card that covers your emergency treatment whilst travelling abroard,It is not a cover for you regardless of what happens. Another point to remember about the EHIC is that if you make a claim using it, the Country who issued the card is responsible for paying for your treatment and that Country should be your Country of Birth and not necessarily the Country you are resident in. If we do pull out of Europe a bigger problem would be things like double taxation,So if you are in Spain but not Spanish and have beome a fiscal resident, As things stand and if you are allowed a vote,It would . at the moment be better for you to keep the status quo.
Alan,
I was born in Britain, however, I have lived in Sweden for most of my life!
Who do you think issued my EHIC card?
It was Sweden, that is where my pension comes from, not Britain where I was born!
I think most agree that the UK is better off within Europe. It will be a shame to come out and it would swamp the UK NHS.
I have no reason to dispute what you say friendly Viking, I guess it could of been worded that The U.K. pay for British Nationals and the Swedish government pay for Swedish nationals. Or to be even plainer the Country that issues your EHIC will pay any bills
Alan,
I have never been a Swedish National!
I am British, have been a British National all of my life, however, I have earned my living in Sweden, earned my pension in Sweden!
You do not need to guess, I have a Swedish EHIC card!
Friendly Viking,
I am getting a bit confused, If you were born in the U.K. prior to 1983 , and regerdless of the nationality of your parents, You can automatically claim british nationality, After that date it is not automatic I took it that your parents were not British, i realise now, I could of been 100% wrong in my assumption. I gather you are British, the fact that tyou receive your pension from a third party Country is irrelevent to to your Nationality,Many people regardless of Nationality receive a pension from a third party Country, due to the fact that they paid tax and National Insurance in that Country for a minimum number of years. (in U.K. until recently you received a full pension after paying Nat Insur. for upto 44years for men, and percentages of the full pension for lesser years). So I am still confused as to why sweden should pay for your EHIC, but it really shouldnt matter as long as you can use the card in an emergency and be covered. Have an enjoyable and safe Christmas and i hope you never have to use your EHIC (stay safe and healthy).
Alan,
You seem to make a lot of assumptions?
I am British, both of my parents are British, I was born in Britain in the 40's I have lived in Sweden for many years and I have a Swedish EHIC because I have a pension in Sweden, not because I am British.
How can that be confusing you?
Who cares who issues your EHIC card. Ex Pats here shouldn't rely on it for medical cover, it's intended temporary use was for visitors from other EU countries to share. If the UK pulls out of the EU then possibly some reciprocal health care could be negotiated.
You got it one Chalkie,thats.the big concern on leaving Europe.Health Care
BigEd,
Deffo? What sort of word is that? Is it a Spanish hearing problem?
Pardon, could you print that again.
BigEd,
OK you win, got me good and proper that time!
chalkie,
You wrote:
Who cares who issues your EHIC card. Ex Pats here shouldn't rely on it for medical cover, it's intended temporary use was for visitors from other EU countries to share.
True!
But maybe you would like to visit some other EU countries. What will happen then if you need a EHIC card?
Alan,
may I suggest that you read this? It may help you to understand. It is from http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/when-living-abroad/health-insurance-cover/index_en.htm
If you do not receive a pension or any other income from the country where you live, 2 situations are possible:
if you receive a pension from another EU country, you belong to that country’s health insurance system
if you receive a pension from several other EU countries, you belong to the healthcare insurance system of the country where you were insured for the longest period of time.
In either case you need to request a certificate of entitlement to healthcare - the S1 form (formerly known as an E 121) — from the health insurance authority in the country whose healthcare insurance system you belong to.
This document establishes your right to full healthcare coverage in your country of residence. You must submit it to the health insurance authority there.In principle, you and your family are only fully entitled to medical treatment in the country where you live. However, some countries (see list below) offer pensioners who live abroad — but belong to their social security system — complete healthcare coverage on their territory too.
Healthcare coverage in the country where you used to work
If the country which pays your pension is one of the following, you and your family members are entitled to complete healthcare coverage in both the country which pays your pension and the country where you now live (if these are different):
Austria
France
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Poland
Bulgaria
Greece
Slovenia
Cyprus
Hungary
Spain
Czech Republic
Luxembourg
Sweden
Reindeer, I'm sorry but I don't understand your question. If you possess an EHIC card, no matter who issued it, then you are entitled to emergency cover in any other EU country. If the UK comes out of Europe then that will disappear and we'll have to resort to some cover similar to when visiting America. In which case then don't get ill.
That Chalkie is what all the holiday makers in UK who go on holiday in Europe need reminding of when the vote comes
That and the fact a lot of British will have to return to the UK to be cared for. It's going to be an interesting few months.
Reindeer,
I can see that at least Denmark and Finland are missing from your list?
Surely there should be 27 or is it 28 Countries, that is the number in E.U.
Reindeer,
You listed 15 Countries and I added Denmark and Finland.
To complete the full list you need to add Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and of course UK.
That makes 28 in total.
Dear Friendlyviking,
I know that not all EU-countries are listed. But please don´t shoot the messenger! I have only copied from
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/when-living-abroad/health-insurance-cover/index_en.htm
and if you had taken some minutes to read the information from that site you would have noticed the following text just below the list of countries:
"If you paid contributions in a country which is not in the list above, you will only be entitled to complete healthcare coverage in the country where you live."
So your added EU-countries must be something for the EU to add. Or if the text is wrong it is something for the webmaster of europa.eu
I wish you a Happy New Year!
Gott Nytt År!
